The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has been entrusted to implement the system of extending insurance protection for Emiratis working in the GCC region as well as for GCC citizens working in the UAE.
Explaining the process, GPSSA executive director of the pensions sector Hanan Al Sahlawi said, “A Gulf citizen who works in any of the GCC countries has the right to enjoy social insurance protection, as if he/she is working in their own home country.”
The decision to provide the social insurance protection system to GCC citizens working in other countries was issued by Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in December 2004 during the 25th session, held in Bahrain.
The UAE began implementing the system of extending social insurance protection in 2007 under law No.18, which was issued by the UAE Council of Ministers in 2007.
“Under the unified system for extending protection, GCC citizens working in any of the GCC countries, provided that the provisions of the Pensions and Social Security Law in their country applies to them, [will be covered]. This includes employers across public and private sectors and their insured. As a result, insureds will receive end-of-service benefits in accordance with the retirement law in his/her own country,” said Ms Al Sahlawi. The provisions of the civil retirement law also include workers in free zones as well as in the hotel and tourism sector.
She affirmed the social insurance protection law is mandatory and failure to adhere to it by not registering employers will bear additional fines that should be settled in addition to paying the contribution claims. M